I seem to be in the minority here but for me the first half of the book was much more engaging. From the blurb I didn’t expect some of the elements that came into play later in the book and they’re just not for me. I liked the writing, but I found myself rushing to finish towards the end.

This was a solid creepy novella, showing the difficulties of a couple and them trying to overcome a massive grief. They try to rekindle some spark by going away to a B&B that they stayed at before, and which held good memories. But the place is odd and not at all how they remember it.

I thought the writing was great, a few spelling/grammatical errors and words missing, but fully appreciate this is an advanced copy. I didn't particularly like the three main players, but they were so damaged and vulnerable that I don't know if I could have anyway.

Overall a chilling read that will keep you checking the corners of the room when ever you hear a noise.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was a an ok little novella. I think it’s just me but reproductive horror (for lack a better term) just doesn’t do it for me.

Felt bad for Nolan though!

This novella packs a powerful punch right from the start. I was hooked from the very start and wanted more when I finished. The relationship between Nolan and Emma kept me guessing until close to the end.

Bed and Breakfast is a great, creepy, fun read. The new owners of the bed and breakfast will give you the ick and add so much to the story. The tension leading up to the ending and how abruptly it ended, left me wanting more. This story beautifully depicts grief, trauma, depression, but also has the memories of a more beautiful time between the couple and why they went back to the bed and breakfast in the first place.

I want to say thank you for letting me be a reader to this arc. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to read more from the author.

The premise of this novella grabbed me instantly, but there was both simultaneously too much and not enough horror for the story to land fully for me. Certain phrases and scenes felt overtly 'horrific' in their style, but in terms of content not much was happening. Probably a good read for the more cerebral horror fan!

Bed and Breakfast follows Nolan, who surprises his wife, Emma, with a staycation at the same cozy inn they visited the previous year. Hoping to mend their fractured relationship and rekindle happier times, he soon realizes something is off. The once-familiar place feels different—unsettling, altered in ways he can't quite explain. The presence of the inn’s odd owner, Leah, only adds to the growing sense of dread, turning what was meant to be a restorative getaway into something far more disturbing.

One of the book’s strongest aspects is its atmospheric writing. The author successfully builds tension, evoking an uneasy feeling without slowing the pace. The creeping horror is amplified by Nolan and Emma’s fragile emotional state, making them particularly vulnerable to the unsettling figure who seems to know more about them than she should. Nolan’s growing helplessness is palpable, lingering until the very last page.

The ending is abrupt and ambiguous, leaving much open to interpretation. Rather than providing clear answers, it lingers in the mind. While some readers might find it unsettling, I felt it added an extra layer of mystery that suited the story’s eerie tone.

I’d recommend going in blind for the best experience. I was initially drawn to the book by its creepy cover—though it didn’t entirely deliver on what I expected, it still satisfied my craving for a chilling, unsettling read. If you enjoy slow-burning horror with a heavy sense of dread, Bed and Breakfast is worth checking out.

Well I wouldn’t classify this as horror even though that’s what it was classified as it was a good fast paced read.

I chose it because the cover looked creepy but it didn’t hit the way I thought it would. Definitely that’s on me though for not fully knowing what I would be getting into.

Still a quick read and it was fast paced and I was able to read it in an hour and a half. I would recommend if you need a quick novella and are into the pregnancy trope mixed with a creepy bed and breakfast.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bed and breakfast is a haunting and emotionally charged novel that blends psychological horror with deep marital drama. The story follows 3 central characters: Nolan, Emma and Leah. Nolan and Emma’s marriage has been on the brink of collapse ever since a tragedy left her paralyzed with severe depression. Once full of life she now drifts through the days in a fog of grief and detachment.
Nolan remembers a happier time when they stayed at this bed and breakfast and tries to recreate that romantic weekend. From the moment they arrive at the bed and breakfast the air feels charged with something unspoken and the new proprietor, Leah is a strange sort of a woman whose home is filled with plants beyond imagination. The inn itself seems to breathe creaking walls and whispering secrets.
At first Emma shows signs of reawakening. Nolan is very hesitant after the first day. When he decides to pack up and leave his car will not start. Upon being told no one can come out right away to fix the car Nolan begins to become unglued and unwell. Emma on the other hand is excited to stay longer and begins to build a relationship with Leah, the creepy proprietor.
This story was chilling and disturbing in some parts. I highly recommend to those who enjoy horror and suspense.
Thank you to Netgalley and A. M. Kherbash for an advanced copy of this chilling novel.

A.M. Kherbash is back with a new creepy story and I am here for it!

In this thriller novella, a couple decides to spend a weekend at a bed and breakfast they previously visited and loved, in order to create new positive memories and move on from a traumatic event they recently experienced. But the new owner of the B&B is nosey and creepy and something definitely changed, it's the same place but it's so different now... and while Emma is appreciating this change of scenery, Nolan is creeped out and wants to leave... but he can't. Something is keeping them there.

From the very first page, I was immediately unsettled but intrigued, especially because the dynamic between Nolan and Emma and the reason for their drifting apart is not explained straight away. That helped building a tension that turned into a claustrophobic sadness and then into horror the more you go deep into the story. I was hooked until the very last line. The ending however was very abrupt and sudden and left me wanting for more. What happens next? I need to know!
Overall a fun read, with a lot of creepy doll heads and a witchy character that will make you think twice before stopping at a random B&B in the middle of nowhere.
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

* I'd like to thank A.M. Kherbash and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#bedandbreakfast #NetGalley

This is a creepy novella which finds its pacing in the second half but holds your attention all the way through.

A husband and wife go to spend a weekend at a certain bed and breakfast which they fell in love with a year prior. They've been having a horrible year since that visit and they're drifting apart with a shared trauma. They hope to rekindle their relationship at this bed and breakfast.

But it's different now. The new owner is kinda creepy and weird although she seems nice and accommodating enough. Then a series of strange things occur and the couple find themselves stuck there, with the owner becoming more and more entangled with their lives.

The first half deals with the husband and wife and how they're each dealing with what's happened over the previous year. It's a good way to establish the characters and give readers a sense of the issues they're going through. But the second half is where the terror sets in as the owner begins to take over the wife, her obsession with mushrooms, some terrifying doll heads, and an overall sense of dread.

The ending is abrupt and ambiguous at best. It's one which can be interpreted in a number of ways and doesn't offer much in the way of answers. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. It leaves you thinking about it after you're done reading. Some people might be put off by it but I thought it left things with a mysterious flair.

I recommend this novella but it won't be for everyone.

Bed and Breakfast follows a couple returning to a once beloved Bed and Breakfast hoping for an escape from reality, but what they find there is beyond their worst imaginations.

On jumping into this story I was immediately unsettled and wondering what was to come. The author took no time in getting straight into the action which I adore in a story this short. The atmosphere was tense between the characters from the get go and stuck throughout, making this such a fast paced story that I couldn't bare to put down. This book incorporates horror elements I eat up every time, such as the constant sense of dread with no real explanation, nature elements and helplessness. I do feel like the story would have benefited from a less abrupt ending and a little more of a conclusion to make the pay off a little less lacklustre. That said, I had a really fun time with this story and recommend this to anyone looking for a quick scare.

The less you know the better with a novella like this but in case you need them, here are the standout themes that could be triggers:
Content Warnings (minor vague spoilers): lots of talk of babies, miscarriages and infertility (no graphic scenes of any), lots of food talk, descriptions of eating, vomit, physical assault (non sexual).

Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for the advanced review copy of this book.

2.5 stars
What started as a compelling read quickly turned into a slightly predictable mess. I thought the premise of this was interesting, I love a good creepy horror set in the middle of no where. However, I quickly became bored with the characters, Emma especially. The plot was slow at first then lightning fast towards the end and I finished this book feeling both confused and underwhelmed unfortunately.